[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16195]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO LOIS O'KEEFE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 23, 2013

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this occasion to give 
congratulations on the retirement of my District Director, Lois 
O'Keefe. This is truly a bittersweet moment for me. I have known Lois 
for over 20 years just before I began my legislative career in the 
Wisconsin State Assembly. She has been a volunteer, an employee and 
most importantly a friend.
  I am happy that Lois will begin a new journey after having such an 
illustrious career as a public servant. Lois O'Keefe has been employed 
by two U.S. Senators, Senators Proxmire and Kohl and a U.S. 
Congresswoman. The labor movement has also been an important part of 
her career. She was appointed as the Regional Representative of the 
Secretary of Labor for the Midwest Region in Chicago. During the 
Clinton Administration, Lois O'Keefe served under Secretaries Robert 
Reich and Alexis Herman. She also served as a union organizer for the 
Service Employees International Union representing workers who cared 
for the elderly. It is clear she has a passion for government service.
  Lois O'Keefe also has a passion for working with youth. She ran the 
REACH Youth Program at the Milwaukee Private Industry Council and 
worked with the Milwaukee Job Corps to start an internship program in 
my district office.
  Lois also has lived the reality of many women, juggling work and 
child care issues to return to school when her four children were 
young, ages 7-14. She earned both a BA in Political Science and an MA 
in Industrial and Labor Relations. After nearly 10 years on my staff 
serving as a caseworker and then District Director, I wish you well my 
friend.
  While you have closed this door, another one is opening for you so 
that you may pursue life at your own special pace. Lois can now travel 
the world, which is something that I know she has wanted to do for a 
long time.
  Lois O'Keefe, thank you for your service to the 4th Congressional 
District.

                          ____________________